110 THE FALL OF THE LEAF. [Dec. 



Fkom experiments carried on at the Connecticut Agricultural 

 Station, between October 10 and November 13 last year, it was 

 shown that the green oak leaves lost between one-third and one-half 

 of the percentage of nitrogen in their water-free substance lietween 

 the time that they began to change colour and the time when they 

 became brown (dead). The corresponding gain is found chiefly in 

 the woody fibre. The newly-fallen oak and chestnut leaves gathered 

 on November 13 gave, with about 30 per cent, of water in 100 lbs., 

 nitrogen 54 lbs. in the oak and 67 lbs. in the chestnut ; potash 

 17 and 38 lbs., and phosphoric acid 26 and 23 lbs. in the leaves 

 of these respectively. Thus a large portion of the soluble inorganic 

 suljstances drawn by the roots of trees from the soil during their 

 growing period is returned to it at the time of leaf-shedding. 

 According to Ebermayer, leaves fall more alDundantly in wet seasons 

 than in dry, more largely on a rich soil than on a poor one. 



According to the correspondent of the Gardener's Chronicle, from 

 whom we quote, in so far as specific leaves decay more or less 

 rapidly, so is the soil on which they fall improved. The broad 

 leaves of the ash, maple, and sycamore decay more rapidly than 

 those of the oak and beech, and these latter more rapidly than the 

 needle-shaped leaves of the various pine tribes. 



A CORRESPONDENT of the Albany Cidtivator advocates the use of oak 

 and other hardwood tree leaves for mulching on strawberries, roses, 

 and herbaceous plants. " For mulching, dry leaves only should be 

 used, and over them scattered a thin sprinkling of sedge or other 

 rough litter or earth, to keep tliem from blowing away. I do not 

 like leaves as a mulching over uneven surfaces, as tliey settle into 

 the inequalities, and with snow and rain get matted, and often rot 

 the plants they were meant to protect. I never remove the leaf 

 mulching from our slirubbery beds, but year after year pile a fresh 

 mulching on the top of the old one, which soon rots and becomes a 

 lining of mould that the roots seek greedily. 



" Sea-thatch or hay, rank stable manure, or other strawy mulchings, 

 I find harbour field mice in winter, and those of us -who have to 

 contend against these little rodents know too well the mischief they 

 do by their runs everywhere under the mulching, destroying roots 

 and all that comes in tlieir way, and barking the trees. But tree 

 leaves have less inducements for them." 



Another correspondent writes : — " The leaves are falling, and should 

 not be allowed to go to waste. How many uses they can be 



